JAMES BEARD CELEBRITY CHEF EVENTS JAN 17 & 18, 2014

Celebrity Chef Weekend

December 23, 2013

The fourth annual Celebrity Chef Tour returns to Mauna Lani Bay on January 17 & 18, 2014. This two-day oceanfront gastronomic event is a chance to get up-close and personal with some of the biggest names in the industry, while enjoying masterful cooking influenced by Hawaiian culture and sustainability.

Former chef and now international award-winning cocktail mixologist, Manny Hinojosa, will prepare a selection of exclusive Grey Goose cocktails using Hawaii’s bountiful fruits, vegetables, flowers and herbs.

The event celebrates local farmers and puts the abundance of seasonally-driven produce grown on Hawaii Island in the spotlight. The Celebrity Chef Tour benefits the James Beard Foundation, whose mission is to “celebrate, preserve and nurture America’s diverse culinary heritage and future.”

The Celebrity Chef Tour opens January 17th with an oceanfront Celebrity Chef Grey Goose Cocktail Reception featuring Manny Hinojosa’s stunningly beautiful drinks. The cuisine of the evening will be delectable hors d'oeuvres (pupus), created by Chef Ippy Aiona. To enhance the evening Chefs Waxman, Voltaggio and Silverton will each present one of their favorite pupu. Chefs and guests are invited to mingle under the stars as they savor tasty bites of star cuisine and flavorful cocktails.

On Saturday January 18th at 6:00 pm at Mauna Lani’s oceanfront CanoeHouse restaurant, chefs Waxman, Voltaggio, Silverton, Arakawa and Hess will prepare an unforgettable five-course dinner. Each course will be matched with premium wines or gourmet-treated cocktails by Hinojosa.

The exact menu for Saturday’s dinner will not be decided until the chefs visit local Hawaii Island farms to select their ingredients. The chefs however have collaboratively agreed that the food will be bold and imaginative at one level, yet simple and focused at another.